01. Episode X (Arrival)02. End Of The Line03. King For A Day04. The Well05. Army Of Slaves06. Shadowman07. Back To Square One08. Blood Red Stars09. The Last Leaf10. Falling Down11. Episode X (Departure)12. Sixth Sense [European bonus]

If you want something in the vein of early Deep Purple, Uriah Heep or Genesis - and all this with a modern sound, you just have to buy this new Royal Hunt album, entitled X!

This is the band's tenth full-length album, and I'd say, the most experimental one. They used old synthesizers, organs, guitars, amps and even drums! Also, they've changed their usual mixing studio "Medley Studio" (where almost all albums were mixed) to legendary "Puk Studio" - a place where a lot of worldwide-famous musicians have recorded. All this to recreate that "70s atmosphere," about which the band wrote in their first studio blog entries. I think they made it work.

Comments

I edited this a lot. My last review was biased as hell I'm sorry for that. here it is..

The Royal Hunt I love is from the Fear / The Mission era, as well as Paper Blood. If you were hoping for a return to those roots or an expansion on the neoclassicl elements you may be dissapointed with this album. This album is a good 70s rock/metal style album. Many of the songs remind me of Ayreon or something. It's actually a damn awesome album, just not the old Royal Hunt but rather a further departure from it.

The album is tight and well produced, but the keyboard is no longer Capcom style powermetal, its more like piano and its no longer a main point of the band.

With this album I think the band actually achieved everything they wanted to. It is an appropriate evolution from the last album, and I am sure if you loved that album you will love this one, probably even more. This is the new band solidified.

Highlights are "Blood Red Stars", which has some cool keys on there and an Ayreon feel to the choruses.
Also "Last Leaf" which is a beautiful balad.
Almost ever song on here is pretty solid and cool though. There's not much missing from this album as long as you know what your getting into.

To sum this up,

The album will be really enjoyed by those who liked Paradox 2, this is great 70s style heavy metal. It's a kick ass album in that vein and everyone somewhat interested should get it.
but for those who liked the old royal hunt and paper blood's neoclassical and progressive elemends, this won't be of much interest to you. That's it, a really fun and well done album and I imagine people will love it.

Paradox II fans should be excited for this, its awesome, just not old royal hunt.

My own little thoughts adding to Wes's
Wes keeps mentioning 70s, but the album doesn't sound out dated. It's also still got that progressiveness and the keys are indeed beautiful. I do agree it has a certain hard rock feel to it and I think "Army Of Slaves" illustrates it extremely well
Another thing is that he keeps mentioning Ayreon, but it's by no means a rip-off.

"X" - has been released on vinyl: same quality as "Paradox" - heavy vinyl with the colour insert - but this time also as a gatefold. Limited edition (hand numbered copies). Order here: www.hho-records.de www.nuclearblast.de www.millenium-records.nl or contact the manufacturer: : http://nightofthevinyldead.com